ECB Expresses 'Serious Concern' Over CLT20 Schedule

The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has expressed 'serious concern' at the schedule for the 2010 Champions League Twenty20 clashing with the end of the domestic season in England and Wales.

The Champions League has reportedly been scheduled to run from 10th to 26th September, which would clash with the last two rounds of the LV County Championship, the semi-finals and final of the ECB 40 over league and an ODI series between England and Pakistan.

The ECB confirmed that they are awaiting 'formal notification' of the schedule for the event and that they will be discussing the matter with the relevant boards.

"ECB has expressed serious concern to the BCCI, CA and CSA concerning this decision and the matter will be discussed with the respective Chairmen and Presidents who are currently meeting in Dubai," a statement read.

"ECB believes that it would be a great shame for the Champions League tournament to be deprived of teams and players by this change of date in bringing forward the respective events by a week and has called on BCCI to review all alternatives."

New South Wales won the inaugural Champions League tournament India, where the ECB was represented by Sussex and Somerset. Middlesex were due to play in 2008 before the tournament was cancelled in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.